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#1 Choose an Explorer from the list below:

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#1 Choose an Explorer from the list below:

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o Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
o Francisco Pizarro
o Christopher Columbus
o Marco Polo
o Juan Ponce de Leon
o Hernando de Soto
o Amerigo Vespucci
o Vasco Nunes de Balboa
o Ferdinand Magellan
o John Cabot

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Choose a video about your explorer to watch and take notes on

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Videos | PBS World Explorers | PBS LearningMedia

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Some sailed across the Atlantic, others rocketed to the moon. Learn more about the lives and journeys of some of history's greatest explorers with our PBS World Explorers collection.

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KidsOLR, a 'human-reviewed' Directory of Educational Resources, Homework Help, Homeschool Resources..

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Kids learn about the biography and life of various world explorers from Columbus to Neil Armstrong.

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For Kids

People become explorers for many reasons. Some like adventure. Some are scientists. Some are looking for riches. Some want to make new discoveries. Some are missionaries. Whatever their reason, explorers have some important things in common - they face the unknown, they suffer hardships, and some never make it back to tell their tales. Here are some famous explorers, each who experienced quite an adventure!
New World Explorers
Leif Eriksson: One famous Norse (Viking) explorer was Leif Eriksson. You might call Leif a teen idol. He was tall and blonde and young and brave. He loved adventuring. Lief and a small band of men sailed across the sea and landed in North America 500 years BEFORE Columbus. The Vikings established a settlement on the coast of North America. But the Viking settlers missed their homeland, and returned home. Learn more about the Vikings.

Christopher Columbus: Columbus was an Italian explorer. He is credited with discovering America, even though Lief Erickson discovered it about 500 years earlier, and Native Americans found it much earlier than that. The round trip, including his adventures in the New World, took Columbus eight months. He was well paid for his trip. Columbus was highly respected and, thanks to his adventures, he was also quite wealthy. He was happily married. He had a couple of kids. He was incredibly stubborn. To the day he died, he never once admitted that he had found a New World. He insisted that he had, in fact, discovered the back door to China.

Amerigo Vespucius: Vespucius was an Italian explorer. He sailed thousands of miles along the Atlantic shore of the New World. It was a map maker in Germany who named the New World after Amerigo (Americus) Vespucius. He named it America. The name quickly caught on and spread through Europe. Most historians today agree that Vespucci had nothing to do with the New World being named America in the 1500s. Still, for many years, some people accused Vespucius of trying to steal this discovery from Columbus. When the topic came up in his hearing, Columbus took every opportunity to point out that he did not find a New World; he found a back door to China. (So stubborn!) Columbus did not mind at all that the New World was named after his good friend, and fellow explorer, Amerigo (Americus) Vespucius.

John Cabot: Cabot was an Italian explorer. His family moved to England when he was a kid. In 1497, five (5) years after Columbus, Cabot sailed away from England, looking for a back door to China, just as Columbus had done. He landed in the New World. He claimed land in what would become Canada for England, because England paid for the cost of trip. But, like Columbus, Cabot thought he had successfully discovered a back door to China. He was not as stubborn as Columbus. He soon realized his mistake, and enjoyed many adventures exploring the New World, and much fame at home.

Francisco Pizarro and the Incas: Pizarro was a Spanish explorer. Pizarro and his band of 167 soldiers arrived in the Inca capital city, high in the Andes Mountains of South America, looking for riches. Pizarro knew they were in trouble the minute he entered the city. There was gold everywhere. There were people everywhere. There were temples and beautiful art. This was a civilization, and an organized one. Although their welcome was warm, they were worried they would be killed. It was a very real worry. Pizarro and his men planned all night how to escape. They knew they had very little chance of success. They got lucky! Read the story of Francisco Pizarro and the Incas to find out how.

Hernan Cortes & the Aztecs: Cortes was a Spanish explorer. In the 1500s, when the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, entered Aztec territory (Mexico) with a small band of his men, the Aztecs misunderstood why they were there. The Aztecs thought these men had been sent by their god, Quetzalcoatl. But the Spanish were looking for people to convert to the Catholic religion, as well as gold to capture. The Aztecs soon became suspicious. Cortes and his men were lucky to leave unharmed.

Vasco Balboa - Balboa was a Spanish explorer, a swordplay teacher, a pig farmer, husband of an Indian princess, and the first to see the eastern shore of Pacific Ocean. He named it Mar del Sur. Later on, Magellan renamed it Mar Pacifica, because when Magellan first saw the Pacific Ocean, the Ocean was especially calm that day. And Magellan's name stuck.

Sir Walter Raleigh: Raleigh made several trips to the New World. He was a soldier, an explorer, a writer, and a favorite with the Queen of England. In 1587, Raleigh sent English colonists to establish a Roanoke Island Colony in the New World. When that didn't work, he claimed land near Roanoke Island, and called it Virginia.

Jacque Cartier: This French explorer made three trips to the New World, looking for a back door to China. He gave the country of Canada its name. Cartier misunderstood the Iroquois word for village - Kanata - and thought it meant the region.

Samuel de Champlain: This French explorer discovered Lake Champlain in what is now Canada, and founded the city of Quebec. The people in Quebec today still speak both French and English.

Henry Hudson: Hudson was hired to find a route to China and India. Instead, like Columbus and Cabot, he ran into the New World instead, and explored the Hudson River.

Hernando De Soto, a Spanish explorer, explored the southeastern part of the New World. He discovered the Mississippi River.

Father Jacques Marquette: Marquette was a French missionary. He explored the Great Lakes Region of North America. Marquette did a lot of exploration with his good friend and fellow explorer, Louis Joliet, a Canadian. They also explored quite a ways down the Mississippi.

Rene Robert de La Salle, a French explorer, also explored the Mississippi. He was the first to navigate all the way down to the mouth of the river. He claimed all the land he discovered for France. Later, after the Revolutionary War, the new government of the United States purchase that land from France. We refer to this as the Louisiana Purchase.

Juan Ponce de Leon led the first Spanish exploration to Florida. He was searching for the legendary fountain of youth. Ponce de Leon sailed with Columbus the second time Columbus came to America.

The Exploration of Canada Interactive - Meet several explorers

Lewis and Clark: Pushed west across America, and explored the Louisiana Purchase. Join the adventure!
Other Explorers
Ferdinand Magellan: Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, was the first man to attempt to sail around the globe on purpose. He died on the way, and never got to finish the trip, but his men finished it for him.

Prince Henry the Navigator: Prince Henry was one of the son's of the king of Portugal. He loved adventure and he loved Portugal. He believed if he could find a way to India to trade for gold, gems, silks, and spices by sea, rather than the dangerous and torturous trip overland, Portugal would become the most wealthy and most powerful nation in the world. He had always been fascinated by the huge African continent to the south of Portugal. Prince Henry believed as big as Africa was, it had to end somewhere, and maybe, just maybe, it ended at a sea, once that could be sailed around the end and travel on to India by boat. He funded many explorations down the West African coastline, each time moving a bit further south. One day, he was proven right! Towards the end of the 1400s, Vasco da Gama, probably the most famous of the many famous Portuguese explorers, rounded the Cape of Good Hope at the bottom tip of the land mass of Africa, and was able to continue on by sea to reach India.

Vasco da Gama: Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer during the Age of Exploration. Vasco da Gama was the first explorer to sail around the tip of Africa and reach India. Bartolomeu Dias, another explorer, had rounded the cape, but his men wanted to turn back because they had already spent so much time at sea, so he never reached India. Vasco da Gama loved adventuring. He did not mind being out to sea for long periods of time. King John of Portugal appointed Vasco da Gama to try again to round the tip of Africa and reach India. It was under King Manuel of Portugal that the voyage was actually made in 1497-1499. King Manuel provided four specially designed ships for the trip, along with enough salted beef and wine to last for years! Vasco da Gama had planned on replacing vegetables and fresh water as needed, with quick stops along the coast of Africa. He brought a great many trinkets with him to trade with the natives. But he couldn't find many places along the African coastline to safely land his boats, and when he could, the natives were not often friendly. Many men died of scurvy from lack of fruit and vegetables on the trip. But, Vasco da Gama did reach India. He brought back jewels and spices to prove it.

James Cook & Australian Explorers: Explored the South Pacific and Australia

Francis Drake: Drake was the first English explorer to sail around the world. He did make it home. The Queen was so pleased with him that she named him Sir Francis Drake.

Marco Polo: Marco Polo was an Italian explorer. He traveled all over Asia in search of knowledge in the Middle Ages. His journal about his travels made many people want to go exploring as well.

Howard Carter: Carter discovered King Tut's tomb. Learn about this fascinating man and play some Tut games here.

Games & Interactives for Explorers

Online Free Games & Activities about Explorers
For Teachers
Lesson Plans and Units
Free Powerpoints about Explorers

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Age of Exploration and New World Explorers for Kids - Free Lesson Plans, Games, Activities, Powerpoints

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People become explorers for many reasons. Some like adventure. Some are scientists. Some are looking for riches. Some want to make new discoveries. Some are missionaries. Whatever their reason, explorers have some important things in common - they face the unknown, they suffer hardships, and some never make it back to tell their tales.

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Mr. Nussbaum History Explorers Activities

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This massive section includes games, historical accounts, articles, online activities, and printables related to explorers and the Age of Exploration.

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Man has been exploring almost as long as he's existed. From the early movements of prehistoric man to the sailors of the 16th century and on to the astronauts of the 20th Century. From the exploration of America (the New World), to the depths of the seas and even to the Moon and Mars, exploration continues to fascinate us and increase our knowledge in equal measure.

Facts about some of the more famous explorers can be found below.

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Man has been exploring almost as long as he's existed. From the early movements of prehistoric man to the sailors of the 16th century and on to the astronauts of the 20th Century. From the exploration of America (the New World), to the depths of the seas and even to the Moon and Mars, exploration continues to fascinate us and increase our knowledge in equal measure.

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The discovery of America and the brave explorers like Christopher Columbus who led the way for the early colonists

The Grande Hermine - the ship of Jacques Cartier

Giovanni da Verrazzano landing in Newport

Picture of the explorer Christopher Columbus arriving in the New World with the ships
The Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta

Explorers of America

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Check out this site for facts and information about the Explorers of America. Major events, history, people in the Explorers of America. Facts and information about the Explorers of America.

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Final Project:    Create a Google Slide Presentation

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Final Project:    Create a Google Slide Presentation

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Slide: 1. Explorer’s Name, and image, Your Name, Date, Teacher Name

Slide 2. Introduction (from Introduction section of notes)
Slide 3. Exploration (from Exploration section of notes)
Slide 4. Map of Exploration / Describe journey
Slide 5. Conclusion and Reflection (from Conclusion & Reflection section of notes)
Slide 6. Images and Extra Information of Interest
Slide 7. Bibliography - List only the Websites and Resources used

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Use these websites to research your Explore. Make sure to keep track of the site you use.

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Use these websites to research your Explore. Make sure to keep track of the site you use.